US hate preacher who 'inspired' London terror attackers is convicted fraudster

An American hate preacher whose online videos are believed to have radicalised one of the London Bridge attackers has reportedly fled his home in Michigan.

According to MailOnline, Ahmad Musa Jibril is convicted fraudster who once posed for photos as a mujaheddin - a "holy warrior." The news website said has not been seen at his home in Dearborn, Michigan - though he did leave his sandals behind.

His mother and sister, who live nearby, have also not been seen in the area, the MailOnline reported.

The 46-year-old has never been jailed for terrorism but is a convicted fraudster who admires Osama Bin Laden and has told his followers to kill non-Muslims.

When he was sentenced for fraud in 2005, prosecutors said he preached Islamic extremism from his front room and owned a "small arsenal" of weapons.

Jabril's extremist material is believed to have inspired Khuram Butt and his accomplices to carry out the London Bridge attack, which left eight dead and injured many others.

In the Saturday night rampage, the attackers first drove a rented van into a crowd and then jumped out and randomly stabbed people they encountered.

Police killed all three attackers. At least two of the men were known to British intelligence and law-enforcement officials, raising questions about whether anything could have been done to prevent the assault.